Risky Business: Would you take a pill to lose weight?

It’s been more than a dozen years since the FDA approved a
weight-loss drug, but the day has come and the new pill, Belviq, will be
hitting pharmacy counters near you soon, Reuters
reports.

Weight-loss drugs have been notoriously risky, causing
serious health conditions and even death. Nowadays, though, with nearly
two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese, the FDA seems to have decided that
the risk presented by drugs like Belviq are dwarfed by the need of society as a
whole to drop weight.

Belviq has been rejected before because of potential cancer
risks. The company producing it, Arena, will still have to conduct a handful of
studies to assess the risk of heart attack or stroke with long-term use. As of
now, the drug is restricted to adults who are either obese or who are
overweight and have at least one weight-related health problem, like type 2
diabetes or high blood pressure.

While many are still concerned about the health risks
presented by drugs like Belviq and similar medications that will likely be approved
in the coming months, many are hopeful that they just might turn the tide in
America’s obesity epidemic.

What do you think?
Would you take a pill to help you lose weight, knowing the potential risks and
side effects?